Review of Jackie Brown (1997) by Bryan W — 21 Aug 2011
Like all the best Tarantino movies, there's a shorter version of the film buried here and references to hundreds of other movies sprinkled within, but no one else could take this script and turn it into something with such style and panache that it invites scores of imitators.
The most obvious genre Tarantino pays homage to is blacksploitation, but this is no one-trick pony. The titular character is, in the source novel, a white woman, and his decision to change her race pays dividends without being too cloying or cute.
Even if some part of you didn't like Tarantino, there's plenty of love to go around, largely because the casting is so damn good, and what's more, many of them turn in the best performances they've had in years without making the film solely a product of acting.
Most importantly, this isn't style over substance. The movie doesn't explode to a start after a deathless dialogue exchange like most Tarantino films, it builds slowly, and by the time you're in the middle of the film, it's hard to stop watching. The action is good, but the tension is better, and by the time you're in the middle of the mall scene, you're left honestly wondering what's going to happen next. And since Tarantino movies to this point have existed free from the taboos of killing major characters, you have no idea who will eventually make it out.
This review of Jackie Brown (1997) was written by Bryan W on 21 Aug 2011.
Jackie Brown has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
